The Coastal Carolina Tour of “The Warrior Ride”…October 15 – 18 this year was a revered event for everyone! Folks at Brunswick Plantation and Golf Resort ® were honored to have the participants and their staff and caregivers stay in lock-out units at the Golf Villas on October 17. The commander of the Bailing Spring VFW was included in the group. Also, noteworthy of our presence was a “Seeing Eye Dog” and a “Service Dog” with our Wounded Warriors.

There was a committee from Brunswick Plantation who arranged this as well as a dinner with Brunswick Plantation residents and entertainment at the Brunswick House on the October 17. Dinner was catered by Jerome’s in Shallotte, who provided the entrees: Beef, Chicken & Shrimp with new potatoes & string beans, salad and rolls. Beverage was Sweet or Un-Sweet tea. Desserts were pies and cakes purchased at Walmart, which was also one of ten business sponsors. A Brunswick Plantation Residents Committee and Caw Caw Land Corp. were also among the sponsors who made this event possible. Folks enjoyed refreshments on the Brunswick House enclosed porch.

Warrior Ride Dinner Program for the Evening:

Blessing of the Food was given by a Wounded Warrior Navy Veteran

Dinner

Desserts

50 – 50 Raffle & a Warrior Raffle. The 50 – 50 Raffle was for the residents & was won by a Navy Veteran & American Airlines Pilot, Vince Krasniewicz, who graciously donated the winnings back into the treasury. The Warrior Raffle distributed golf lessons by a National Teaching Firm, to six winning Wounded Warriors.

Entertainment: Ronnie & Kathy Lee provided High Energy Musical Entertainment and are known in Oak Island as the “Party of Two”.Nancy Snyder sang during the main entertainments break!

Bob Racine, founder of the Wounded Warrior Ride, introduced his Wounded Warriors, who all extended their appreciation for their Warm Welcome to Brunswick Plantation!

John McGinley, introduced his Warrior Ride Staff of Brunswick Plantation who worked together to make this evening happen and conducted a brief Memorial for the Warriors friends that have departed, as well as our residents spouses and friends.

Attention was directed to an American Flag flying from the porch bracket at the Brunswick House. This Flag was presented to Bob Racine by Congressman Mike McIntyre for the recent loss of Bob’s wife , Debra. Debra was a co-founder, along with her husband, of the Wounded Warrior Ride. This Flag had flown over the U. S. Capitol. John suggested that Debra was with us this night and recited a brief poem that is a Celebration of Life!

The Warrior Ride…Tour de Carolina

October 16: Carolina Beach Southport end at Virginia Williamson School

October 17: Shallotte to Calabash to North Myrtle Beach Ending @ Brunswick Plantation for lodging and Honor Dinner

October 18: Cycling starting at 9:30 am Oak Island Community Ride

This Warrior Ride is with their care givers and staff has been the largest group ever to come to Calabash. The group includes Several Military Services; Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Army National Guard. Attending Residents included several Military Services, Retired Policemen & Firemen, and accompanied by their Spouses.

Future Warrior’s Ride Tour de Carolina

***October 22nd through 25th…Greenville, Spartenburg, Charlotte Tour

***November & December Veterans Day Parade at Southport & Oak Island

Wounded Warrior Ride…History and Mission Statement

The Warrior Ride was founded by Bob and Debra Racine from Oak Island, NC. After their first cycling event in 2005, they knew that adaptive bicycling was a tool for recreation and rehabilitation for injured service members. They believed that while Recreational Adapting Bicycles to injuries can be challenging, it can work.

Bob was a three tour Vietnam Vet and after being mistreated and receiving no honor from the American public upon his returns from Vietnam, Non promised himself that if there was another war, he would be on the forefront of Welcoming Home and Honoring our Defenders of Freedom. He personally understands the sacrifices made every day by our service men and women.

The cycling events are Bob and Debra’s way of saying “Thank You” to our nation’s heroes! They proclaimed, “This is our life work, our personal ministry, and one of the greatest joys of our life.” Though Debra has recently passed away, She was honored with the Flag presentation to Bob at Brunswick Plantation. Debra was also honored, along with our Combat Injured, at a ceremony at Waterfront Park in Southport on October 15, 2014.

The Warrior Ride is a non-profit 501(c)3 with the mission to recreate and rehabilitate combat injured service members by implementing multi-day adaptive bicycling events. The Warrior Ride events take place in various locations throughout the United States. There is no cost to the injured veteran to participate in “The Warrior Ride” events. All expenses are paid through donations and grants.

The Warrior Ride…Honored at Bush Ranch

President George W. Bush hosted the third annual W100K Mountain Bike Ride for Wounded Warriors on May 23- 25, 2013 at President and Mrs. Bush’s Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas.

“The Warrior Ride” Mission Statement

The Warrior Ride is a non-profit organization founded in the State of North Carolina with a mission to facilitate rehabilitation on mind, body, and spirit of our wounded war heroes by implementing challenging adaptive bicycling events throughout the United States. During the Multi-day cycling events our nation’s wounded warriors are able to take pride in the skills they have, and redefine their capabilities through accomplishment in an atmosphere of camaraderie and support. “The Warrior Ride” uses adaptive bicycling as a tool for recreation and rehabilitation.